Hi All,
I would like to announce our next book selection for the Treeleaf "Beyond Words & Letters" Book Club ...
ZEN SEEDS, REFLECTIONS OF A FEMALE PRIEST, a series of essays by Shundo Aoyama Roshi.
http://www.amazon.com/Zen-Seeds-Reflect ... 4333014786
Shundo Aoyama is well known in Japan as a writer and lecturer on Buddhism. She is the chief priest of the temple Muryo-ji and Abbess of one of the major (and one of the few) training monasteries for female Soto Zen priests (Aichi Senmon Nisodo), and a student of Kodo Sawaki Roshi and Uchiyama Roshi.
The book is described this way ...
A female Soto Zen priest writes in plain words about the seeds of enlightenment to be found in everyday life. In this fascinating collection of essays she explains in a clear, engaging style the nature of true happiness, beauty that springs naturally from a compassionate heart, and the joy we can find in life. Combining personal experiences and a knowledge of Buddhist sacred texts, the author makes Buddhist philosophy accessible to everyone. The result is a truly practical and illuminating guide.
I thank Richard (Shokai) for reminding me of the book a few weeks ago. I am thinking that Aoyama Roshi's voice will be good to follow the "All Boy's Club" of the traditionally male-male Lineage we are now reading in Hixon & Cook, plus the essays in Zen Seeds are very much more modern and "down to earth" than the wild old myths and stories recounted by Master Keizan. I think many folks will appreciate Aoyama Roshi's common sense approach and lovely heart.
So, GET A COPY EARLY!
If you would like to see a little video about Aoyama Roshi's life and work at her monastery, here it is (soundtrack in French and Japanese) ...
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xg70tq ... 2-2_webcam
Gassho, J
I would like to announce our next book selection for the Treeleaf "Beyond Words & Letters" Book Club ...
ZEN SEEDS, REFLECTIONS OF A FEMALE PRIEST, a series of essays by Shundo Aoyama Roshi.
http://www.amazon.com/Zen-Seeds-Reflect ... 4333014786
Shundo Aoyama is well known in Japan as a writer and lecturer on Buddhism. She is the chief priest of the temple Muryo-ji and Abbess of one of the major (and one of the few) training monasteries for female Soto Zen priests (Aichi Senmon Nisodo), and a student of Kodo Sawaki Roshi and Uchiyama Roshi.
The book is described this way ...
A female Soto Zen priest writes in plain words about the seeds of enlightenment to be found in everyday life. In this fascinating collection of essays she explains in a clear, engaging style the nature of true happiness, beauty that springs naturally from a compassionate heart, and the joy we can find in life. Combining personal experiences and a knowledge of Buddhist sacred texts, the author makes Buddhist philosophy accessible to everyone. The result is a truly practical and illuminating guide.
I thank Richard (Shokai) for reminding me of the book a few weeks ago. I am thinking that Aoyama Roshi's voice will be good to follow the "All Boy's Club" of the traditionally male-male Lineage we are now reading in Hixon & Cook, plus the essays in Zen Seeds are very much more modern and "down to earth" than the wild old myths and stories recounted by Master Keizan. I think many folks will appreciate Aoyama Roshi's common sense approach and lovely heart.
So, GET A COPY EARLY!
If you would like to see a little video about Aoyama Roshi's life and work at her monastery, here it is (soundtrack in French and Japanese) ...
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xg70tq ... 2-2_webcam
Gassho, J
I even followed the pattern on it's back pages to make/sew myself a Zafu; something which lost itself in our move back to Canada. The other four books I gave away to friends who had expressed an interest. As a matter of fact I bought at least twenty copies of Zen Seeds and gave them as gifts. Zen Seeds was a very warm reading. It put words to some of the experiences I had during my early introduction to zazen. I have ordered another copy from Amazon and am very much looking forward to meeting up with this old friend again. And, more importantly, seeing it from all the perspectives of our fellow Sanga Members in the Book Club. 
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